His choice is based on his grace, not on what they have done. For if God's choice were based on what people do, then his grace would not be real grace.

What then? The people of Israel did not find what they were looking for. It was only the small group that God chose who found it; the rest grew deaf to God's call.

And Isaiah exclaims about Israel: "Even if the people of Israel are as many as the grains of sand by the sea, yet only a few of them will be saved;

Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.

But in order that the choice of one son might be completely the result of God's own purpose, God said to her, "The older will serve the younger." He said this before they were born, before they had done anything either good or bad; so God's choice was based on his call, and not on anything they had done.

God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his children---this was his pleasure and purpose.

Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son!